Colf stroke counter



May 30, 1933. w CARLSON 1,912,032

GOLF STROKE COUNTER Filed Aug. 15, 1930 flaw w /E Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES JOHN W. CARLSON, OF CHICAGO, TLLINOIS GOLF STROKE COUNTER Application filed August 15, 1930. Serial No. 475,458. Q

My invention relates generally to golf stroke counters and more particularly to counters adapted to be attached to the bandles of golfclubs.

It is frequently desirable in playing golf to tally the number of strokes used with a particular club, for example, a putter. l have therefore provided a rugged, durable counting device which may be attached directly to the handle of the club and thus convenient for tallying the number of strokes made with the club to which it is attached.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved golf stroke counter which may be attached directly to the handle of the club.

A further object is to provide improved means for securing a golf stroke counter to the handle of a golf club.

A further object is to provide an improved counter which is simple in construction, is durable, may be economically manufactured and which may be easily applied to the bandle of a golf club.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a my counter attached;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the counter;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional. view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing how the device may be utilized to hold the end of the handle-covering tape in place.

The counter of. my invention comprises a body 10 having a serrated peripheral projection 12 which is adapted to engage the end face of a golf club handle 13, and having 45 the serrations impressed into the wood so as to be held non-rotatably and firmly thereagainst. The body 10 has a finished horizontal surface 14: which forms a bearing for a ring 16. The peripheral cylindrical sur- 5 face of the ring 16 is preferably knurled and golf club with the inner surface of the ring has a plurality of saw-toothed indentations 18' formed therein. A spring pressed ball detent 20 mounted for radial movement in a bore 22 in the body 10 is adapted to be forced into one of the indentations 18 and thereby prevents accidental movement of the ring 16. A collar 2d fits snugly over the upper sleeve-like portion 26 of the body 10 andis held firmly in engagement therewith by riveting the end of the portion 26 into a countersunk recess in the collar. A wood screw 28 passes through the bore 30 formed in the body 10, the end'of the bore being suitably countersunk, and" is screwed into the end of the handle '13 of a golf club. 7 i

As best shown in Fig; 2, the upper surface of the ring 16 has the numbers 0 to 19 stamped, engraved or otherwise marked thereon, the numbers being adapted upon rotation of the ring successively to register with an arrow mark 32 formed on the slop ing side of the collar 24. It will be noted that the collar 24: projects downwardly within the ring 16 so as to form a bearing forthe latter and accurately center it on the body 10.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated how the counter may be utilized to hold'the end of the tape from unraveling, thus eliminating the necessity of providing threads orother means to hold the tape. In this embodiment the tape 34 is turned over the end of the golf club and is held in place by the serrated downward projection 12 of the body 10. The counter thus serves as a neat way of finishing off the end of the club handle 18.

The counter of my invention may be attached to any wooden handled golf club by the wood screw as shown, or other suitable means may be utilized when it is desired to attach the counter to a club having a steel shaft.

When in use the counter is set to zero at the beginning of the game and after each stroke the ring 16 is rotated clockwise to bring the next number into registry with the pointer 32. The spring for the ball detent 20 has sufficient strength to hold the ball tightly in the indentations 18, making the application of considerable force necessary to rotate the ring 16. Accidental rotation of the ring in handling the clubs or in throwing them in the golf bag will thus be prevented. The assembly of the parts is permanent since the portion 26 is riveted over the collar 24, and the detent is thus prac tically sealed. against the admission of dust and dirt The device can be very economically manufactured. In many instances the user will have a counter upon each club and thus at the end of a game Will have an indication of the number of times each club was used, and by totaling the registrations of the various counters arrive at or check the total score.

The invention is capable of wide variation within equivalent limits and I contemplate such variation as may bedesirable or useful in the particular adaptation of the invention shown, or in its adaptation to other deviees. I do not restrict myself in any unessential particulars, but what I claim and desire to. secure Letters Patent is:

1.. A golf stroke counter comprising a body v having a serrated bottom surface, a ring rotatable on said body, said ring having indicia on one side face thereof, cooperating detent means for said ring and body, a collar for holding ring, on: said body, a wooden golf club handle, and means passing through said body and engageable with the end of said handle thereby to draw the body against and force the projections of the serrated portion of the body into: the end of said handle.

2. In combination, a golf club, and a stroke counter adapted to be rigidly secured to the end of the golf club shaft, said counter comprising a rigid body clamped to said sbatt, means on said body for preventing rotation thereof relative to said shaft, a screw threaded in. the end of said shaft and forming; the means for clamping said body to said shaft, a register element rotatably mounted upon said body, and means for resiliently holding said element in any one of a pluralityof. positions.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of August, 1930.

JOHN W. CARLSON. 

